2011 Holiday Gift Guide

Let’s be real here. I publish these gift guides every year (here’s last year’s and last year’s for the dudes), but we all know that I don’t actually start Christmas shopping until Christmas Eve. I love the rush 😉

(I love wrapping, too!)

That being said, I do love to plan out what I’m going to get in advance, or at least have a little idea of gifts for loved ones. Here are some things I think would make awesome gifts for your fitness-minded, yoga-loving, domestic diva and girly-girl friends. Maybe you’ll find some ideas for your own wishlist as well! I tried to include a variety of price ranges + some Cyber Monday deals in there. I’m not affiliated with any of these companies unless clearly indicated, just enjoy their products.

Happy shopping <3

-Mat bag- oGorgeous bags are made by my friend Cassey and are pretty much incredible. (Free mat bag keychain if you order today, and order is over $50)

Every active lady needs a foam roller in her life. It’s a free massage, and helps to prevent injury.

-new headphones

–Tarte eyeliner gift set. This is my all-time favorite eyeliner –more about it here- but you get 6 full-sized ones for a little more than the price of one. Amazing. I actually ordered this for myself a couple of weeks ago, and love using the purple or green eyeliner on my top lid to change things up a little

-Cute wristlet. You can go with a wear-with-everything classic, or something sparkly for upcoming holiday parties. This MARC by Marc Jacobs one is $88, and you can find a cute clutch for as low as $30.

–Circle scarf. Cozy and beautiful, and also make a great transition piece into spring- I love how they look with a tank and fun earrings. This one is from Nordstrom, but Forever 21 and HM also have a great selection of circle scarves.

-Sephora makeup motherload. They have a few different options with tons of makeup for around $50- I’m partial to Tarte and love this one

-Pretty Kindle cover or iPhone case

I have this Kate Spade iPhone case (in pink/black), and have dropped my phone at least 40 times. It’s still alive! So it looks pretty and it works. Winner, winner.

There are a ton of amazing Kindle and e-reader covers available online. I love this one on Etsy:

Great gifts Gina!! I love the Lululemon products you highlighted, especially the new ruffle tank! I can’t really think of a single gift that was absolutely extraordinary, but it’s more the entire Christmas experience that makes it all exciting for me. Happy Cyber Monday!

Wow, this guide is amazing! I want almost all of them for myself, haha. I’m jewish, so the family doesn’t really exchange gifts for the holidays – only the little ones get presents. But a girl can dream 🙂

When Nintendo first came out, my cousins got it. My sisters and I wanted a game system of our own. that Christmas, Santa hid the system in the hall closet. We screamed in hysterics over Duck Hunt, Mario Bros, and that Olympic race thing where you had to run on the pad. We learned how to cheat the system on that. 😉 But that was one of the best memories from my childhood on gifts.

Another one was more recent from my Hubby (before marriage. He gave me a big box with smaller wrapped boxes inside one of another until it came to a jewelry box. I opened it and it was empty except for a note: “hahahaha! wasn’t that fun??!!” I turned to give him a look and he had another jewelry box in his hand and inside was a small diamond necklace. 😀 he is so crafty. sadly, I lost the necklace a few years later, god knows where. I still have the box with the not inside. . . .

and I have NO idea what to get Hubby this year since 1. his mom starts shopping in August for everyone which makes it impossible to get him DVDs he would love and 2. he is not a fitness/foodie/stylish type of guy. le sigh.

I’ve been looking for a new eyeliner and I think I’ll give tarte a try. Thanks for all of the recommendations!

One of the best gifts I’ve received is my kitchenaid stand mixer. I felt guilty about spending so much $$ on a mixer, but my husband surprised me with it last Valentine’s Day. I love receiving gifts that I wouldn’t normally buy myself. 🙂

well, I already know what the cop got me for Christmas this year as he bought it with my paypal account! (silly cop!) Yay for watches! The best gift I ever got though, was my first year with my husband, he got me a rottweiler. He was the best.

Word Gina!!! Love the ideas – I’ve never used tarte eyeliner before – but it looks fab on you…I must try! And that Buddah Butter dish is to die for! love it! I would probably use it for some other concoction as we don’t use butter…maybe goat butter (even though I secretly LURVE cow butter as you would say 😉 – after going to Paris and eating butter from the little bistro’s that served it…j’miss)
Last night my friend came over to keep me company while Rob went to go play Hockey – we had Martini’s (one each) – she a pomtini, and for moi a good old fashioned dirty 4 olive vodka martini – we watched of all things “Sister Wives”…OMG Gina – you need to see the episode – this woman delivered that 9 pound 10 oz. baby au naturel at home like a freakin’ rockstar!!!!!!! –
I see this being you!!!! When are you due? You look lovely and your madre and nana are adorable btw…
-Natasha

Ohh I love your gift guide post!! I really enjoy buying gifts for people but sometimes it’s hard to think of unique, creative ones, so this definitely helps! I love the bag and yoga bag your friend makes! Those are gorgeous! And awww, Bella was a gift from the Pilot?? How sweet!! I think my best gift was my college graduation- my mom gave me the diamond earrings that her parents gave her on her college graduation but had them re-set so they were more my style. I love them!

Your ideas are always fantastic – how you find the deals is beyond me – those eyeliners! I have a confession to make – I am going to end up purchasing some of these things for me! I seem to do pretty good buying gifts for others. The best gift I ever got was a cowboy outfit I got when I was 6 . . . I wore it to bed that night!

Hi Gina, do you have any recommendations for Christmas gifts for a pregnant woman? My sister is 6 weeks pregnant right now, and I usually get her clothes for Christmas. I would love some ideas to keep her happy and make her feel good. So far I’m thinking a Lululemon workout outfit, and maybe a body pillow. Thanks!

I love my Garmin 405, it wasn’t a gift per se, but my husband MADE me buy it. I don’t know how many times I “visited” it at REI before he finally put his foot down and said “buy it already!” We’re terrible about doing gift-gifts, since neither of us can keep them a secret!

Hey Gina, any reccomendations for a gym bag for the man-friend? My hubby (also a pilot) carries around his issued backpack as a gym bag and it drives me nuts! I’d like to get him something a little more practical…

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